EE-3 Jararaca

EE-3 "Jararaca" light wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle was developed by Brazilian company "Engesa" at the end of 70-ties. Vehicle is intended for reconnaissance and patrolling. Furthermore it was intended to use as a self-propelled chassis base, fitted with anti-tank or anti-aircraft guided missile complexes. EE-3 is serially produced by "Engesa" company since 1980. It is used with Brazilian armored forces and is exported to a number of African and Latin-American countries.

Driving compartment is placed at the front, combat compartment - at the middle, and engine compartment is placed at the rear part of the hull. Vehicle crew consists from driver, commander, and signaler-observer.

"Jararaca" has a full closed armored hull, made from multi-layer welded armor, also used with other "Engesa" company wheeled armored vehicles. Such armor is made from two layers of steel: external layer is rigid, while internal layer is less rigid, but more tough. Brazilian research showed that such armor design increases vehicles armored defense. Such defense additionally protects crew from vehicles armor shells, appearing after direct hit of anti-tank gun, guided missile, or grenade launcher.

Driving compartment is fitted with three periscope observation devices. Driver gets to his compartment threw a hatch in the roof. Rotating commander's turret is placed behind the driving compartment in the right side from vehicles central axis. Commander's turret is also fitted with three periscope observation devices. 12.7-mm machine gun is mounted on the turret roof. Machine gun can be fired distantly from the inside of the turret. Signaler's-observers seat is placed left from the commander's turret. Signaler has it's separate hatch. Besides "Jararaca" has entrance threw armored door placed in the middle of the left board.

"Jararaca's" chassis has 4 x 4 wheel formula. Frontal wheels are directing. Wheels have independent suspension, based on springs and hydraulic absorbers. Vehicle is fitted with a wider dimension tyres with developed protector pattern and centralized air pressure system.

Development

The EE-3 (4 x 4) Jararaca scout car was designed specifically for the export market and was not adopted by the Brazilian Army.

As the ENGESA company is no longer trading, the EE-3 Jararaca is no longer being marketed or built. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Iraq took delivery of a quantity of these vehicles.

Variants

Apart from the NBC reconnaissance version and the different armament installations there are no variants of the EE-3 Jararaca. Cyprus uses the EE-3 Jararaca fitted with the 2,000 m range Euromissile MILAN ATGW system. It has not been confirmed that the EE-3 NBC version ever entered production.